Todd Fisher
Newberrytown, PA (August 27, 2014) – The Inaugural Sprint Car Fall Classic on Sunday night, will now see a 360/358 Sprint Car Challenge race replacing the ARDC Midgets. The headliner that evening will be the 410 Super Sprint Cars along with a special appearance of the Sidewinder Sprint Cars.
The Super 410 Sprint Car feature will pay $3,500-to-win for the 25-lap feature event. Non-qualifiers for the A-Main feature will receive a complimentary non-transferrable entry fee ($50.00 value) for the Final Showdown to be held at SSP in November. For the Super Sprint Cars, mufflers WILL NOT be required and Hoosier Brand Spec Tires will be required on all four corners (same as the 2014 rules at Williams Grove, Lincoln and Port Royal Speedways). All other rules will follow the generally accepted rules for Sprint Cars at local weekly Central PA Sprint Car tracks (1400 pounds weight rule). Raceivers will be mandatory for all Sprint Cars.
The 358/360 Sprint Car feature will pay $2,000-to-win for the 20-lap feature event. The race will pay $200 to start. Non-qualifiers for the A-Main feature will receive a complimentary non-transferrable entry fee ($50.00 value) for the Final Showdown to be held at SSP in November. Mufflers WILL NOT be required. For all cars, the following tires are permitted – Hoosier Brand Spec Tires will be required on all four corners (same as the 2014 rules at Williams Grove, Lincoln and Trailways Speedways), URC2, MC@, or Selinsgrove track tire. All other rules of the Central PA 358 Sprint Cars will prevail for 358 cars this event. All cars competing may use ASCS top wing rule and the minimum weight for all cars with driver is 1,475 pounds. An event flyer with full purse may be found at www.sspracing.net.
The mutual decision to replace the ARDC Midgets on Sunday was a difficult choice for Todd Fisher, SSP owner and the ARDC representative Jerry Steward. “There are many good people within the organization that I respect and like. The ARDC group as a whole is very challenging to deal with and have some fundamental organization problems.” Fisher explained. “There are many reasons that have led to this decision. It was not a knee-jerk reaction.” The reasons include the numerous leadership changes over the past few seasons, instability in car count and other speedways being given special deals to run the ARDC Midgets. “I signed a sanction agreement in the Spring and have yet to have a returned copy signed by an ARDC representative returned to me. It is now the end of the summer. This is one of the many fundamental issues with the internal workings of the organization.”
The on-track action of wingless midget racing was never an issue other than the concern of the newly appointed scheduling director, Jerry Steward expressing his concern that “Drivers don’t want race on a horse@#&$ racetrack following the Sprint Cars and burn off four tires in one race.” That comment was the final straw that led to Fisher dropping the ARDC Midgets from the September 21 event. “Jerry and I both mutually agreed that it would not be in the best interest of anyone if he and the drivers felt that way in competing with the 410 Sprint Cars on the same card.” Even though Steward offered Fisher a “Special Deal for SSP,” Fisher declined to continue with the ARDC sanctioning.
The wingless Midgets will remain on the same card for the popular Candy Bowl X presented by J&K Salvage, just without the ARDC sanctioning. Purse details for the open competition midget event will be released in the near future.
Fisher concluded, “I hope that the ARDC group with its 75-year tradition of great racing can get its off-track act together. As a supporter of the group over the last 10 years and seeing many internal changes within the group, I wish them the best and we will see what the future between us and the group.”
On Sunday, September 21, the pit gates will open at 3:30 p.m. Grandstand gates will open at 4:00 p.m. Track Prep laps begin at 5:30 p.m. with qualifying races at 6:00 p.m. followed by consolation races and feature events.
General Admission Grandstand ticket prices for Sunday night are Adults (ages 18-59) $18.00; Young Adults (ages 11-17) & Senior Adults (60 & Older) $15.00; Children (10 & under) are free. Pit pass prices are $25.00. The minimum age requirement to purchase a pit pass is 12 years of age with a copy of a birth certificate is required for all ages 12 to 14.
The Susquehanna Speedway Park is located off I-83 to exit 32, then 1.4 miles NW on SR382 to York Road, then 1.3 miles south. For more information, contact the speedway offices at (717) 292-1696 or visit online at sspracing.net. On raceday, use the track phone at (717) 938-9170 for up-to-date information at the “Big Track” and the “Outback Track.”
Sunday, September 21, 2014
SSP Big Track Time Schedule(Subject to Change)
3:30 p.m. Pit Gates Open: Pit Passes: $25.00..
4:00 p.m. Grandstands Gates Open: General admission: Adults (18 & older) – $18.00; Seniors (60 &
older) & Young Adults (11-17) – $15.00; Children (10 & under) – Free
5:10 p.m. Heat in Engines (All Cars)
5:30 p.m. Track Prep Laps Begin
Rotation: 360/358 Sprint Cars
Super Sprint Cars
Sidewinder Sprints
7:00 p.m. Welcome, Invocation and National Anthem
360/358 Sprint Car Qualifying Heat Races (8 laps)
Super Sprint Car Qualifying Heat Races (10 laps)
Sidewinder Sprint Car Feature #1 (10 laps)
360/358 Sprint Cars Consolation Race (8/10 laps) – if needed
Super Sprint Car Consolation Race (8/10 laps) – if needed
Super Sprint Car Feature (25 laps)
360/358 Sprint Car Feature (20 laps)
Sidewinder Sprint Car Feature #2 (10 laps)
- Top 3 finishers from each heat and top 5 finishers from the feature to the scales/tech in the infield.
· Top Three Finishers are Required to be in Victory Lane after Every Feature – $200.00 Fine for Failure to Report.